WEST UNION, Ohio — In a turn of events, instead of jury selection, Adams County Judge Brent Spencer heard a change of plea from a man charged with the attempted murder of an Adams County deputy.

Willard Morrison Sr., 60, of Germany Hill Road, Manchester, Ohio, was charged after a 2005 confrontation with ACSO deputies which left police vehicles peppered with bullet holes and Sgt. Rex Branham severely injured and fighting for his life.

“He pleaded guilty to two counts, as charged, of attempted murder. One of the counts includes a seven-year gun specification,” said a spokesperson at the office of Adams County Prosecutor David Kelley.

On Sept. 5, 2005, Morrison was involved in an incident that began with a police investigation of a man threatening a resident of Tulip Road. Branham found Morrison driving a truck on the roadway and attempted to stop him. Morrison stopped his vehicle near the intersection of Ohio 125 and Ohio 348, near Lynx, Ohio. Morrison fired a weapon at the deputy, striking the police cruiser. Branham returned fire as Morrison attempted to flee the scene in his vehicle and attempted to pursue Morrison until his cruiser became disabled. At that point, Morrison and Branham were on Ohio 348. With Branham’s cruiser immobile in the highway, Morrison turned his truck around and rammed Branham’s cruiser at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. Branham’s cruiser was destroyed in the collision and the Jaws of Life had to be used to rescue him. Branham nearly lost his arm and leg as a result of the incident, police said.

Since the incident, Branham has had to undergo 16 surgeries, he said.

He was in attendance when the change of plea was announced.

“I am really happy with that. We really had nothing to offer him. The charges were attempted murder and he pleaded guilty to that,” said Branham, on Monday.

Glad to at least have an arm and leg at all, Branham is still not able to return to work.

“My arm won’t straighten out and my leg is pretty much in the same shape. There is a lot of muscle tissue loss. I am really just glad to be here at all,” said Branham. “The doctors sometimes wondered.”

During his rescue, Branham was conscious until he arrived at the hospital.

“Then they knocked me out for 15 days,” he said.

A lot has gone on in Branham’s life in the last two years. His daughter and grandson are big parts of his life and the support fellow officers and the community has shown toward him is appreciated.

“I feel pretty good now that I am able to do some things,” said Branham.

Formal sentencing date has been set for Oct. 11. A pre-sentencing investigation was also requested by Spencer.

Morrison may be looking at up to 27 years in prison with credit for time served. Since his arrest, Morrison has remained in Adams County Jail on $1 million cash bond.

For more area news, go to http://www.westunion-online.com.

Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276.